When it comes to choosing a programming framework for designing
and developing a website, ASP.NET and PHP are the two most widely used web
languages that you can opt for. While ASP is an extension of dot net
manufactured by Microsoft, PHP on the other hand, is a highly popular scripting
language. Although, both are equally significant but there are certain factors
when one outweighs the other. Below are few differences between the two frameworks:
·
Developing and Designing Cost
PHP is open-source in nature
and thus can be downloaded from the Internet at free of cost. PHP offers free
modules and plug-ins to download, which is an advantage for programmers as it
helps them to carry out PHP development easily without incurring huge
development cost. Whereas in case of ASP.NET you will need to purchase
Microsoft products like Dreamweaver, visual studio etc. which makes ASP.NET a
costlier option when compared to PHP.
·
Performance
Performance is one of the most
important factors that ensure success for most web applications. Most of the web
applications that are written in PHP use Linux as the operating system (OS),
Apache as the web server, and MySQL as the database. The web applications
written in the above mentioned manner are said to be extensively optimized that
ensures improved performance.
On the other hand, in case of ASP.NET
the database used is MS SQL (Microsoft SQL Server), even though you can also
use MySQL with it.
What’s more, operating system
and the file system used on the web server are considered two important factors
for enhancing performance. And some tests show that Linux OS and ext4 file
system ensures enhanced I/O performance as opposed to Windows OS and NTFS file
system. All this makes PHP a better alternative compared to ASP.NET when it
comes to application performance.
- Language
Support
ASP.NET offers multiple
language support, be it C++, Visual Basic, cSharp etc. On the contrary, PHP
supports C++.
- Security
ASP.NET scores over PHP when it
comes to rendering customer support and carrying out security updates. Even
though, PHP does provide customer support services and even ensures security but
it is not frequent like ASP.NET.
- Community
Support
PHP consists of rich community
support, and boasts vast open source developer community. The community keeps
on making contributions regarding the PHP development framework.
ASP.NET, in contrast, is a
Microsoft property, although it has its own community which is developing with
each passing day, but it is not as rich as the PHP community.
- Tools
and Editors
PHP developers favor using text
editors such as Notepad++ and VIM rather than utilizing a full-fledged IDE. But
in case you wish to use an IDE, you can opt for free editors like Eclipse in PHP.
ASP.NET, on the other hand, gets
support from most of the IDEs but it is extensively used with Microsoft Visual
Studio – the most powerful and flexible IDEs. But it’s not free! So, if you are
ready to shun out some money then ASP.NET Visual Studio fits your bill.
Aforementioned are few factors
that help you in deciding which one is better, but make sure to get familiar
with the ASP.NET and PHP, as the final decision depends on your requirements
which may vary. If you are looking for a completely free framework then PHP is
your best bet, and can do nearly everything that ASP.NET does.